Commons:Wiki Loves Africa/2015 theme ideas: Difference between revisions

Vote for the Theme for Wiki Loves Africa 2015

The period to add theme options is open until the 31st May 2015.
The vote for each theme will be open from the 1st June 2015 until 30th June 2015.

What is Wiki Loves Africa?

Wiki Loves Africa (WLAf) is a public annual contest where people across Africa (and beyond) can contribute media (photographs, video and audio) about their environment on Wikimedia Commons for use on Wikipedia and other project websites of the Wikimedia Foundation.

When does it take place?

WLAf is a two-month competition which will start on the 1st October and end on the 30th November 2015.

The theme of the contest

Wiki Loves Africa particularly encourages participants to contribute media that illustrate a specific theme for that year. Each year the theme changes. The theme is chosen for its ability to illustrate in multiple ways a universal, visually rich and culturally specific subject (for example, markets, rites of passage, festivals, public art, cuisine, natural history, urbanity, daily life, notable persons, etc).

The theme for the 2014 photo contest was Cuisine. It sought to document in the form of various media, the diverse types of cuisines across the continent of Africa. You can view the competition results for 2014 here.

We are now asking YOU, the community, to choose the theme for the competition this year.

Below you will find some options that were put forward by the WLAf 2014 organising teams.

You can add your own option. The ability to add your own option will close on the 31st May 2015.

Please vote for your favourite choice in the spaces provided below. Voting for all options opens on the 1st June and closes on the 30th June 2015.

PLEASE feel free to add a theme that you think would be best for Wiki Loves Africa 2015.
Please remember that all themes should:

1. Be capable of adding encyclopaedic knowledge about Africa, its peoples and cultures;
2. Be universal (everyone does it, wherever they are in the world), but locally relevant (it is done differently by different groups around the world);
3. Avoid themes already dealt with by other contests;

To add a theme, please include below the last options below:

• Option letter:
• Theme name:
• Competition scope:
• Examples of photos that could be included.

(use the first options below as examples of how to format your proposed theme)

• Opens on the 1st June 2015
• Closes at 24h00 UTC on 30th June 2015

• You must have an account to vote. This is mandatory.
• You may vote for several options
• To vote: Please add below your favourite theme option, followed by your signature.

To do this, please click "Edit" next to the letter for your favourite picture, and then add {{s}} ~~~~ at the end before clicking "Save".

Please note: after each proposed theme there is a section for constructive discussion as to the benefits or concerns around each theme. Please engage with the proposed themes and share your thoughts with regards to perceived practicality and challenges. Please make sure you sign your comments with 4 x ~'s.

Competition scope: To include submissions of media that cover cultural dress and fashion; specifically fashion that is defined by local cultural influences and determines cloth, styles, ways of wrapping and hanging, etc.

Discussion as to pros and cons of theme A:

• I have a feeling that Option A and Option B could be brought together under a Cultural Fashion and Adornment theme as the are so closely aligned (it is difficult to include one without including the other). What does everyone else think? Islahaddow (talk) 14:30, 15 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
  • Agree with this competition scope! --— D Y O L F 77^[Talk] 09:05, 25 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

• Pretty much agree. Anthere (talk) 11:17, 18 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
• --195.76.31.5 12:23, 18 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
• I very much concur as it will broaden the scope of the theme should it be joined. Flixtey (talk) 12:24, 21 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

•  Support option A & B together. --— D Y O L F 77^[Talk] 09:10, 25 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
•  Support --Touzrimounir (talk) 22:07, 26 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Competition scope: To include submissions of media that include culturally defined jewellery, make-up, hairstyles, cloths and woven materials.

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• File:African Waist beads.png
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Discussion as to pros and cons of theme B:

•  Support option A & B together. --— D Y O L F 77^[Talk] 09:11, 25 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Competition scope: To include submissions of media that covers rites of passage and rituals that can range from weddings to funerals, religious, cultural or national days to arts and culture festivals.

Discussion as to pros and cons of theme C:

Competition scope: To include submissions of media that illustrates both formal and informal commerce, from street stalls and informal markets, to stock exchanges and shopping malls.

• I think this theme might be too similar to 2014 cuisine theme. Anthere (talk) 08:10, 15 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

• I agree with Anthere. Too close to food/cuisines wlaf of last year. Might introduce difficulties in separating actual food images from markets, as most food are acquired from markets Nkansahrexford (talk) 09:41, 15 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

• I also agree to what Anthere and Rex have said it is too close to foods.--Rberchie (talk) 12:42, 15 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

• Certainly not an option for me either Flixtey (talk) 12:27, 21 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Competition scope: To include submissions from across Africa that illustrate the range of built environments, and can include historic, contemporary and cultural examples, and can range from huts to castles to skyscrapers and bridges, and back to dwellings.

Discussion as to pros and cons of theme E:

• This, architecture, I believe should be tackled this year. Africa has some amazing architecture, can't wait to cover them. Nkansahrexford (talk) 09:46, 15 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
• My choice too. I'm curious about African Architecture. It would be a nice idea {{SUBST:bonjour}}Sg7438^{me parler, me critiquer mais pas d'insultes ! je suis hypocondriaque, j'ai toutes les maladies mais... je ne souffre pas d'hypocondrie !} 16:54, 18 May 2015 (UTC)
• I agree, I think it would be an amazing project ... but what are the implications for freedom of panorama. Some African countries haven't caught up with this - I know it might be a hinderance in South Africa. What would be other copyright requirements - would entries have to list the name of the architect? owner? etc. Not my field, but I guess we need to find out. Islahaddow (talk) 10:25, 22 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]
• The theme is interesting but... it would not be my choice for this year. Many reasons for this... the point reported above by Isla. But also colliding in part with Wiki Loves Monuments which would be just one month before (it would blur the message; tough to tell media about Wiki Loves Monuments in September and then about Architecture in October). Also, I would prefer WLA to be as universal as possible and I fear part of the population would not feel so excited in it (typically teenagers would maybe not get very interested in this theme). Anthere (talk) 15:40, 25 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Competition scope: To include submissions that represent the diversity and richness of Africa's many floral kingdoms, and its living fauna; to include media of animals and plants, as well as those that are involved in the husbandry, protection, destruction, etc. of these two subjects.

• As a food science engineer, I would obviously be very happy to see more data about flora and fauna get into Wikimedia projects. However, I do not think this theme is a very good idea. I have several arguments against.

First, for Wiki Loves Africa, we want a theme that every one in Africa could embrace but also join in a useful way. But let's face it... most people just have no idea what the name of a plant or an animal is beyond the 10 very standard ones. And even when they know the generic name, it is unlikely that they will be able to provide the full information that would make the image truly useful (taxonomy wise). I fear we might end up with a random collection of pretty flowers. And only "experts" will provide really useful data.

The second reason is that chance is that the primary participants to the contest will end up being non-african tourists who happened to visit Africa and did a safari photo. Getting content is good, but the contest is mostly about local awareness and participation. I think other themes would be more helpful for the next couple of years. Anthere (talk) 08:07, 15 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Subject scope: To include submissions that promotes Africa's rich heritage and culture expressed through music, song, dance, and movement.

• I see it as a good idea. Anthere (talk)
• Definitely Music and danceǃ Michaelphoya (talk)